NHTSA (USA)High Risk
This page covers 15 recalls, 792 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica.
22–32 mpg combined
7.4–10.7 L/100km
Minivan - 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2018 Chrysler Pacifica draws its heaviest complaint volume around the engine and steering systems. On the engine side, owners commonly report check engine lights, stalling warnings that tell the driver the vehicle will shut off, and cooling or heating irregularities. A recurring concern is head gasket failure at relatively low mileage, with multiple owners describing coolant-related symptoms well before 100,000 miles. Clicking and pressure noises from the engine bay also come up across several reports. Steering complaints center on a sticking or binding sensation in the straight-ahead position, roughly between the 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock range, which owners describe as making it hard to hold a consistent angle through gentle highway curves and contributing to unintended drift. Powertrain complaints follow at a lower but notable volume, with owners describing hesitation and unexpected power loss during normal driving.
792
Total Complaints
27
Crash-Related
14
Fire-Related
14
With Injuries
By System
The 2018 Chrysler Pacifica has 15 recalls, the most serious involving drivetrain and suspension failures that can cause loss of drive power, unexpected rollaway while parked, or complete loss of steering control.
Several recalls affect the drivetrain: a front axle halfshaft can disengage from its joint, cutting drive power or allowing the vehicle to roll while parked; a transmission component can fail and leave the vehicle unable to move; and on plug-in hybrid models, an internal wiring connector can short circuit and shut the engine down. A loose battery ground connection on stop/start-equipped vehicles can cause intermittent power steering loss or a stall, and a separate underhood wiring fault can also stall the engine. On the suspension side, the right front lower control arm can separate from the steering knuckle, causing total loss of steering. A software defect can cause cruise control to hold or increase speed even when the driver tries to cancel it.
For occupant safety, the second-row center buckle on 8-passenger models can accidentally unlatch the left outboard seatbelt, and the manual park release plug can be pulled without a tool, risking a rollaway. Vehicles with certain Kidde fire extinguishers may find the extinguisher fails to discharge. Some vehicles with wheelchair restraints have a latch that may not hold the chair during transit. On vehicles with the 8.4-inch display and surround-view camera, the rearview image can linger on screen after shifting out of reverse.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
At a glance
What can fail
The wheelchair restraint retractors may fail to lock, leaving wheelchairs unsecured in the vehicle.
What the fix does
Rollx will inspect and replace the retractors at no cost. Contact Rollx customer service at 1-800-956-6668.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A wiring connector inside the transmission may short circuit, causing the engine to shut down unexpectedly while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the Power Inverter Module software and, if needed, update the instrument panel cluster and engine control module software.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On vehicles with an 8.4-inch radio display and surround view camera system, the rearview camera image may remain on the screen after you shift out of reverse gear, which could distract the driver.
What the fix does
The radio software will be updated at a dealer to turn off the rearview image within 10 seconds of shifting out of reverse.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software glitch causes the rearview camera image to stay on the radio display even after shifting out of reverse, blocking the view that should appear.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the radio software at no cost to restore normal display switching.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A loose battery ground connection can cause intermittent loss of power steering assist and engine stalling.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect battery ground surfaces, clean contacts as needed, and properly reassemble the ground connection.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The right-front lower control arm ball joint may separate from the steering knuckle, potentially causing loss of steering control.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the right-front steering knuckle and lower control arm for damage, replace parts as needed, and install a larger-diameter pinch bolt.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The right front lower control arm can separate from the steering knuckle due to an undersized pinch bolt.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the right front knuckle and lower control arm for damage, replace damaged components, and install a larger-diameter pinch bolt.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A voltage regulator chip in the powertrain control module may fail, causing the engine to stall or not start.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the powertrain control module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front axle shaft assembly may be misassembled, causing the shaft to disengage. This results in loss of power to the wheels and risk of the vehicle rolling away when parked.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the front axle shafts on both sides and replace them if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front axle halfshafts may have been assembled incorrectly, causing the shaft to not secure properly to the CV joint.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the affected left or right halfshaft assembly at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A transmission component may be improperly welded, which could prevent the transmission from sending power from the engine to the wheels.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the transmission at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Manual Park Release plug can be removed by hand without tools, which bypasses the theft protection system.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the Manual Park Release plug at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A wiring short circuit can prevent cruise control from disengaging. When engaged, you may not be able to turn it off by braking or using manual controls, causing the vehicle to maintain speed or accelerate unexpectedly.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the engine or powertrain control module software at no cost to fix the cruise control disengagement issue.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fire extinguisher may clog and fail to spray, or require excessive force to use. In some models, the nozzle may separate from the valve assembly with enough force to cause injury and make the extinguisher unusable.
What the fix does
Chrysler will provide a replacement fire extinguisher at no cost. Contact Kidde or Chrysler to arrange the replacement.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In certain seating conditions, the second-row center seat belt buckle can cause the left outboard seat belt to unlatch unintentionally.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a shorter second-row seat belt buckle at no cost to correct the issue.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
